Weightlifting Team

California Strength is home to a team of elite weightlifters advancing the sport of weightlifting in the United States. Our team trains with programming specificially developed to build on the unique backgrounds so commonly found in American lifters. We publish training videos twice a week, every week. Subscribe today and keep up with the big lifts and intense atmosphere of training at California Strength.

Meet The Coach

Dave Spitz has been at the helm of California Strength's weightlifting team since its inception back in 2007. Dave started Americanweightlifting.org with the singular mission of inspiring a weightlifting movement within the United States. Having spent a great deal of time training in Bulgaria, he brought back Ivan Abadjiev and Alex Krychev in an attempt to implement the same system here in the United States with American weightlifters.

Fast forward through the late 2000's; American weightlifting greats like Donny Shankle, Jon North, Caleb Ward, Jared Enderton, Spencer Moorman, and Scott Hisaka all trace back to the training halls of California Strength and have left their own mark on weightlifting history.

California Strength Men's Team

Wes Kitts (105kg)

170kg Snatch | 210kg Clean & Jerk | 380kg Total

2015 American Open Champion, 2016 Russian Grand Prix Bronze Medalist, 2016 National Champion. Current member of the NPGL New York Rhinos. Follow Wes on Instagram @weskitts22

Rob Blackwell (94kg)

160kg Snatch | 183kg Clean & Jerk | 339kg Total

Current member of the NPGL Los Angeles Reign. Follow Rob on Instagram @robblackwell

Lift at California Strength

If you believe you can be a part of California Strength as a supported athlete please review our requirements and application process. There are varying levels of support offered to athletes, with benefits ranging from gratis coaching, allowance for travel expenses, education & stipends. We support our athletes in their professional pursuits to develop careers in the industry concurrently with their weightlifting training.